Discipline Committee Members:
Patricia Murray, Athletic Director, York University - Chair
Sandy Slavin, Athletic Director, University of Lethbridge
Liz Hoffman, Athletic Director, University of Toronto
Bob Dubeau, Athletic Director, McGill University

PROCESS:
In accordance with Section 90.40 – Conduct and Enforcement: Complaints, Investigation and Discipline Policy of the 2002 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Policies and Procedures, the CIS Discipline Committee determined on April 17 that Lakehead University (“Lakehead”) was in breach of CIS Regulation 40.10.4.3.2, specifically with respect to the participation of an ineligible men’s ice hockey player in five non-conference and two conference competitions between October 4 and October 19, 2002.

DETAILS:

• An ineligible student-athlete, Troy Kahler, participated with the Lakehead University (“Lakehead”) men’s ice hockey team during five non-conference and two conference competitions between October 4 and October 19, 2002.
• The student-athlete was ineligible as a result of not having completed the CIS required number of courses in academic year 2000-2001, his most recently completed year of CIS competition (CIS Regulations 40.10.3.3.2 and 40.10.3.3.4).
• The student-athlete’s academic transcript was reviewed and verified as satisfying CIS academic standing requirements by both Lakehead’s Registrar’s Office and Athletic Department.
• Lakehead acknowledges an inadvertent administrative error in the application of CIS Regulations with respect to the student-athlete in question; specifically, Lakehead applied the requirements of Regulation 40.10.3.3.5 (requiring successful completion of three full courses or equivalent in a twelve month period) rather than the requirements of Regulation 40.10.3.3.4 (requiring successful completion of three full courses or equivalent in an academic year, approximately September through August).
• The eligibility documentation and verbal presentation produced and provided by Lakehead to its student-athletes is accurate and consistent, with the exception of one document that provided an incorrect reference to the Regulation referenced above; that is, although the Regulation is correctly referenced in more than one instance within Lakehead’s eligibility orientation system, one reference within one document related to the Regulation in question was incorrect.
• Lakehead became aware of the potential infraction, and their misinterpretation, upon an inquiry by the student-athlete’s former CIS school on October 23, 2002, which was subsequently confirmed and disclosed by Lakehead on October 24.
• Lakehead immediately undertook a review and assessment of all its student-athletes and determined that this was an isolated incident.

IT IS DETERMINED THAT:

1. Lakehead erred in its application of CIS regulations with respect to the student-athlete in question;


2. Based upon the information available to the Committee, the student-athlete was an unwitting participant in the breach and did not deliberately seek to circumvent CIS Eligibility Rules.


3. The student-athlete, as per Regulation 40.10.4.1.2, shall be charged with a year of eligibility as a result of the number of non-conference and conference competitions in which he participated.

THE FOLLOWING SANCTIONS ARE IMPOSED:

1. Lakehead is hereby fined in the amount of $1,000 for the errors that led to the breach of CIS regulations, payable by June 13, 2003;
2. Lakehead shall undertake such procedural, structural or other changes as may be required to minimize the chance of future violations, and shall provide a progress report regarding its efforts to the CIS by June 13, 2003;
3. Lakehead shall pay to the CIS its costs of these proceedings within 30 days of being provided with an accounting thereof.

The CIS Discipline Committee notes that Lakehead has cooperated fully in the investigation of this breach.

Canadian Interuniversity Sport
801 King Edward, Suite N205
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada     K1N 6N5
Phone: 613-562-5670     Fax: 613-562-5669
Email: feedback@universitysport.ca